From the Salzburg Dom’s organ balcony thirty feet above a sold out crowd and the rest of the 200 choralists, with 100 of them being from Munster, Delaney Craig, senior, was one of the choralists chosen for a solo part in the piece, “Non Nobis Domine,”at the Salzburg Music Festival July 1.
“Hearing the sound carried out, from the balcony, so softly and beautifully was awe-inspiring and wonderful,” Delaney said.“To sing in that atmosphere was magical and felt like a dream come true.”
Along with Delaney, 95 choir students with accompanying friends and family went on the choir’s Austria trip this summer June 27- July 4. The choir first arrived at Salzburg for the music festival, then they went to the heart of Vienna, Minoritenkirche, to headline at their sold out performance featuring the European premiere of their specially composed piece, “Spaces In Your Togetherness,” on July 3.
When they arrived at Salzburg, part of the group went on a tour of the Mondsee Abbey, the location where the Sound of Music wedding took place. Throughout the trip, the students were able to go on many tours and visit places, such as, Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace, Old Town Salzburg and a film festival outside the Capital Building of Vienna.
“One of my favorite parts was when we explored the outskirts of the Schonbrunn Palace,” Annie Fuller, junior, said. “There would be hidden fountains within statues, chairs, and even a musical theater. The tour guide was quite devious and enjoyed flipping the switch that would shower us with water. We may have been soaked by the end, but it definitely kept us on our toes.”
Before they started rehearsals the next day after their arrival, the group went to dinner with the choirs they would be singing with for the Salzburg Music Festival.
“When we went to meet the other choirs, it became evident that our group was the only group of kids here beside all of these adults and professional choirs,” Mr. Luke McGinnis, choir director, said. “It was really cool to see. We sat and ate alongside everyone as the sun was setting at this restaurant built into a cliff. It was the most picturesque thing in the world.”
As the choir rehearsed and performed for the Salzburg Music Festival, they were under the direction of Professor János Czifra, Domkapellmeister of the Dom, and Dr. Edith Copley, one of America’s best choral conductors.
“I remember making eye contact with Dr. Edith Copley after we all sight read the piece, and it was like she knew that I knew it,” Giselle Rivera, senior, said. “It was just so rewarding. Sometimes, when I’m normally on stage, I think about reminding myself, ‘Oh smile, you’re on stage,’ but nothing was forced, I was literally unable to stop smiling.”
As the choir students went on to headline their own performance in Vienna, a sold out audience of 400 Austrians and accompanying family and friends came to watch them perform.
“We always sort of get jitters before we walk up on stage, but this time it felt different,” Cris Silva, senior, said. “This situation was on a whole other level. All of these people coming to see us perform, it was insane. After this accomplishment, it was almost like we could do anything.”
